Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 178, 26 January 1912, Page 3

Stratford News.

Stratford, Thursday. THE LIBRARY AND READING ROOM. The improvement of the library and reading-room, though deferred, is not to be abandoned. The other evening I had the opportunity of -being present when Dr. Paget explained to a number of his fellow-councillors his plans for the provision of better accommodation in the library and for subscribers to receive more attention and more assistance than now. He proposes, and the Library Committee agrees with the proposal, to extend the library ,by taking in a portion of the readirig-roofn. This new apartment will be for the use of subscribers, magazines being placed upon the tables. The most important proposal, however, is the appointment of a permanent librarian. Dr. Paget considers—and here he will have all the subscribers and the majority of the public with him—that the Stratford Public Library should have a permanent librarian, who shall be a person of erudition, of culture, and consequently with more than a passing acquaintance with modern literature; a person who should be able to advise the Selection .Committee in the purchase of' new books; and to guide subscribers in the selection of volumes for home reading; one who would be able, after hearing the reader's tastes, to recommend, books suitable. For such a librarian the committee proposes to offer a salary of £4O a year. Speaking to Dr. Paget, I remarked that the salary was hardly likely to attract a. librarian possessing all these qualifications. But he said there would not be the slightest difficulty. This is good news, indeed. That the Library needs popularising none can deny. The subscribers ought to take a hand now that the matter is before the Council. It might be possible to secure additional financial assistance. It might be advisable for the subscribers to have, direct representation on the Library Committee. ELECTRIC LIGHT PROBLEM. I The statutory notices concerning the poll of ratepayers on the electric light loan scheme are published. Some time ago an interview with the Mayor on the subject was published in these columns. Views of correspondents, for or against the proposal, will be welcomed. Correspondents are requested to write in ink, and on one side only of the paper. THE BURNS SUPPER. . A SUCCESSFUL SCOTCH GATHERING. The gathering at the Foresters' Hall to-night was a distinct credit to the «r----ganisers of the "Burns Supper," to keep green in the hearts of Scots and other folks the memory of Scotland's national poet. To be sure, no Scotsman requires a reminder, and all love to do honor to the poet's memory. There were 150 present. Greetings were received from kindred societies in Dunedin and Christ- ■ church, and from Scots all over [ the Dominion. The hall wore a really ) 'festive appearance. The tables were gay 1 with flowers. -One of the vases on the principal table contained heather and Scotch thistles, the heather having been thoughtfully forwarded by Mr. F. C. Carthew, of New Plymouth. Sprigs of heather and rosettes of tartan lent a true Caledonian air to the gathering. Prominent in the decorations were the j Royal Standard of Scotland, the Royal j Standard of England, and St. Andrew's Cross. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. L. Kennedy, and the vice-chairs by Messrs. Geo. Sangster and A. Mcintosh. Mr. J. H. Thompson was the accompanist. The catering was the subject of much favorable comment. Mr.- and Mrs. Elder, each of whom had had to do with catering of this kind in "Bonnie Scotland," had entered into their work with enthusiasm, and the guests sat down to | a supper of which any of the big caterers in the Old Land might have been proud. The ceremonial was like their native air •to the Scots assembled, and a novelty to colonials and others who had not had the fortune to be born north of the border. To these the menu presented some problems. For the benefit of the uninitiated it is given here in- full, with explanation in parentheses where required: —Joints: Laich cuts o' beef roastit (roast beef), gigots o' mutton roastit (roast mutton), santit soo's leg roastit (roast pork), boiled bubbly jocks with guid stuffin' (cold turkey and seasoning), roastit goose, chicken roastit, Ayrshire pork smokit (cold ham), coo's tongue row'd (cold tongue), trumlin tam (potted head,, or brawn). Vegetables: peas, ingans, sybies, tawties biled and champit, bashed needs and ither orra vegetables (peas, onions, spring onions, mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, and other vegetables); haggis; puddings, Burns pudding, apple tairt, grossett tairt (gooseberry tart), and ither guid things; kebbucks green and mitey (gorgonzola and cheddar cheese), baps (rolls), aitcake in farls (oatcake), scones and parleys, bannocks, short cake (shorebread). Dessert: wines, coffee, and fruit, followed, proving the correctness of the quotation read: "Pappy we are a' thegether, Happy we'll be one and a'; Time shall see us a' the blither Ere we rise to gang awa\" The toast list was as follows:—"The King, Queen and Royal Family," the chairman; "The Army, Navy and Military Forces," Mr. F. If. Wilkie, response by Capt. Lantpen; "The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns," Mr. D. Maxwell; "Town and Trade of Stratfosd," Mr. A. D. MacDonahl, response by the Mayor, Mr. J. Masters; "The Industries of Taranaki," Mr. J. McAllister, response by Mr. A. Morton; "The Ladies," Mr. C. Jackson, response by Mr. Don Cameron; "The Chairman," Mr. Alec Henderson, response by ilr. W. L. Kennedy; "The Croupiers," Mr. IT. D. Cameron, response by Messrs. Sangster and Mcintosh; "The Press," ill". R. McK. Morison, response by pre»* representatives present. "Auld Lang Syne" brought to a close what is believed to be the first Burns supper held in Taranaki. Its success was due in no small measure to Mr. Alec Henderson, originator and secretary of the movement. At the conclusion of the dinner Mr. Kennedy (chairman) gave an eloquent speech on the Scotsman's love of country and Burns' career. Mr. Alec Henderson outlined the obl ject of a Society proposed to be formed, to be called the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, for the promotion of social intercourse and .Scottish literature among Scotch people and folk of Scottish descent. In the future its object might be extended to promotion of benevolence and educational help. In fact it was urged that the society might found a scholarship at the earliest possible moment. (Applause.) On the speaker's motion, seconded by Mr. J. Rutherford, the society was formed. The follbwing officers were elected: President,

* From Our Resident Reporter. * T Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. * * ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦'♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦• J. + ♦ * $ <f>

Mr. W. McLaughlin Kennedy; vicerpresidents, Messrs. A. S. Grant, S. Sangster, " D. S. Glasgow, R. McK. Morison (Stratford), Jas. Thompson (Ngaire), R. Lambie, sen. (Pihama), A. Marlow (Ingle- ? wood), Jas. Grant (Hawera), T. A. Lees (Toko), W. X. Ewing (New Plymouth), 1 J. McLeod (New 'Plymouth), Wm. Hood i (Inglewood), R. Barr (Eltham), and othj ers in various centres to be appointed' by | the committee; secretary, Mr. A. Hen- ; derson (Stratford); treasurer, Mr. F. H. ' Wilkie (Stratford); executive committee, Messrs. A. W. Reid And. Mcintosh, J. McAllister, Joe MeCluggage, J. Pe--1 trie, Hugh D. Cameron and D. Butchart, I with power to add> to the number. • 1 CRICKET. STRATFORD v. HAWERA. The Stratford cricketers journeyed to Hawera to-day, and met the Hawera Club on Bayly Park. The wicket was in fair order. The home team won by 15 runs on the first innings, Piatt (41) being the biggest scorer of the day. He had a life at 18, when he should have J . been caught. For Stratford, Boyesj .played a fine innings, but 1 was eventually I out to a remarkably fine catch by Pratt J at mid-on. Scores:— STRATFORD. i Dunlop, b Johnson 10 E. Jackson, b Hill 9 Kirkham, b Hill l Boyes, c Pratt, b Hi 11... 21 Prebble, c and b Treweek 13 0. Jackson, !) Treweek 0 Jennings, c sub., b Treweek 4 Hartley, b Hill.. / <j Lyons, c Mitchell, b McCarthy. 0 Lyons, c.Mitchell, b McCarthy... .•.. 0 Gilbert, not out 5 Wilson, b Hill 1 Extras g, Total 60) Bowling analysis: Hill, five for 10; one for 16; McCarthy, one for 7; Tretteek, three for 11. HAWERA. Treweek, c sub., b Prebble 11 Tissiman, b Prebble 2 McCarthy, 1) Prebble 11' Pratt, t> Prebble 41 Hill; b Boyes 3 Johnson, run out 0 Douglas, b Boyes 8 Nicoll, lbw, b Boyes 0 j Jennings, c and b Prebble 0 I Mitchell, c and b Prebble 1 Potts, not out 0 I Extras 7 1 j Total 84 I [ TENNIS. STRATFORD v. ELTHAM. The Stratford 1 Lawn Tennis Club played the first inter-club match of the season J;o-day, when they met the Eltham Club, and won by 144 games to 130. Scores are as follows, Stratford players being mentioned first:— Men's Singles—Don Cameron 3 v. Haden 12; R. B. Anderson 12 v. Pitcher 7; V. Crawshaw 12 v. Baker 2; E. H. Young 12 v. Jenkins 4; F. N. Fussell 1.2 v. Ross 5; J. H. Thompson 8 v. Campbell Ladies' Singles.—Miss Black 2 v. Miss Wilson 7; Miss Mackay 7 v. Mrs. Eggers i 4; Miss D. Mackay 2 v. Mrs'. Bennett 7;\ Mrs. Wilkie 4-v. Miss Blennerhassett 7. Men's Doubles.—Cameron and Anderson 13 v. Haden and Pitcher 15; Crawshaw and Young 12 v. Jenkins and Baker 7; Fussell and Thompson 7 v. Ross and Campbell 12. Ladies' Doubles.—Misses Black and Mackay 7 v. Miss Wilson and Mrs. Eggers 3;' Miss D. Mackay and Mrs. Wilkie 7 v. Miss Blennerhassett and Mrs. Bennett 4. Combined Doubles.—Cameron and Miss Black 4 v. Miss Wilson and Haden 7; AndeTson and Miss Mackay 7 v. Mrs. Eggers and Pitcher 4; Crawshaw and Miss D. Mackay 9 v. Mrs. Bennett and Baker 2; Young and Mrs. Wilkie 5 v. Miss Blennerhassett and Jenkins 9. Totals: Stratford 144, Eltham 130. RIFLE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST STAGE. At the Stratford rifle range to-day the Rifle Club fired the first stage of the championsliip at 200 yards and 500 yards. The scores are as follow:—, 300 500 Tl. Rfm. Gollop 45 46 91 Rfm. C. Speck, 40 4ff 87 Rfm. Ritchie 41 40 81 Rfm. E. Brocklebank 40 40 80 Rfm. W. Brocklebank ... 36 38 74 Rfm. Ferguson 33 40 73 Rfm. Wickham 40 44 841 Rfm. McMahon 38 40 78 BOWLING. Eltham to-day Stratford defeated iUtham by a fair margin. GENERAL NEWS. John Harvey, charged with drunkenness, appeared before Mr. C. D. Sole, J.P., this morning, and was fined 5«. He found that policemen are not all tarred with the "send-him-to-gaol" brush, his light fine being due to Sergemt McNeely's plea for him. A man named Jemison, engaged as a porter on the railway at Te Wera, was admitted to the hospital yesterday, suffering from a broken thigh, the result of an accident which occurred during shunting operations. Mr. G. Grey, of New Plymouth, was in Stratford to-day. Captain Cfardale, with Lieutenant Wilson, took to-day's parade of the mount- • ed rifles. There was a capital muster. The men assembled in sections from 11 a.m. onwards, putting in three hours' work in squad drill, marching, and physical drill. Mr. J. McDonald, cinematographer engaged by the Department of Industries, Commerce and Tourists, I believe, is at present in the Stratford district. He lias secured a number of pictures of Mt. Egmont, scenery, including Dawson's Falls, and has also taken moving pictures of the dairying industry. During one's travels in Taranaki not so many years ago it would have been possible to get pictures of milking sheds that would have proved "moving" indeed. To-day we are so clean, and so proud of it, that we ask the photographer to step this Way. The manufacture of butter at the local factory, and of cheese at Kaupokonui, is included in the films used. Such a series, if well shown in the Old Country, should prove a great "ad." for the Dominion and its produce. In Stratford the street lighting and private lighting by electricity is carried on the same circuit, the result being that on moonlight nights the streets are lighted just as though the moon had deserted us for the nonce. This means a

j big loss of current, of course. The^comIpany is now duplicating, the mains • in order to make the street lighting independent of private consumption. -This will, of course, be absolutely necessary when the day load comes on.. In fact, it; is the projected installation of the day 1 load for power purposes which is respond sible for the change. Mr. J. W. Boon is the contractor for the building to house 1 the new generating plant. It will be i somewhere between' two and three j months before the new plant is in use, Mr. F. Dunlop, a very well-known member of the staff of-Messrs. Young, Hobbs & -Co., has decided to enter into partnership with Mr; Sidney Ward in the manufacturers' land and commission i agency business. Stratford being on the \ up grade, the new firm should have a < good future, for both members of it 'are active men and popular over the whole district, BUSINESS NOTICES. C. & E. JACKSON. Messrs. C. & E. Jackson, having just completed a very successful year's business, much of which has come to them as the result of judicious advertising and their energetic business methods, have taken an increased advertising space on this page, and farmers and land buyers generally would do well to keep in touch with the list of properties advertised from time to time. The Messrs. Jackson emphasise that- they were for a number of years successful dairy farmers in this district; hence they have special knowledge of values. / MJI. J. H. THOMPSON. Mr. J. H. Thompson, land and commission agent, has a notice in to-day's j issue. He has been instructed to offer for lease a well situated shop in Broadway, the site of the oldest established grocery, fruit and confectionery business in Stratford. No goodwill is asked, and possesion can be had quickly. , Mr. has issued a compact little "land guide," and asks those desirous of I purchasing land to write for a copy.